-지

Casual (반말) sentence ending that, depending on intonation, seeks agreement ('…, right?'), states something as obvious, asks oneself a question, or makes a soft suggestion ('why don't you…'). Its polite form is -지요/죠.

문장 끝·말투Endings & speech style

Han: -지 is 반말; to a teacher or anyone older add 요 (-지요/죠).

Examples

이 노래 진짜 좋지?This song is really good, isn't it?

내 휴대폰을 어디에 뒀지?Where did I put my phone?

피곤하면 오늘은 그냥 집에서 쉬지.If you're tired, why don't you just rest at home today.

Don’t mix up

-지vs-지요(죠)-지요/죠 is the polite version of the same ending: 맛있지? (to a friend) vs 맛있죠? (to a teacher).

-지vs-네-네 reports something just noticed; -지 assumes the listener already knows it: 비가 오네 'Oh, it's raining' vs 비가 오지? 'It's raining, right?'

-지vs-아/어?Plain -아/어? asks an open question; -지? expects 'yes': 배고파? 'Are you hungry?' vs 배고프지? 'You're hungry, aren't you?'

How to build it

V/A+지

N+(이)지

past: V/A+았/었지

polite:+요 (-지요/죠)

덥다 → 덥지?; 학생 → 학생이지?; 친구 → 친구지?; 가다 → 갔지?; 쉬다 → 쉬지.

Rising intonation asks for agreement (춥지?); falling intonation states something as obvious (당연히 알지).
With an action verb addressed to the listener it is a soft suggestion: 피곤하면 좀 쉬지. The honorific version is -(으)시지요: 이쪽으로 앉으시지요.
With a question word it often sounds like asking oneself: 어디에 뒀지? 'Where did I put it?'
It is 반말: use it only with close friends or younger people; add 요 for polite speech.

Classic mistake

Wrong: ~~선생님, 내일 시험이 있지?~~

Right: 선생님, 내일 시험이 있지요?

-지 is 반말; to a teacher or anyone older add 요 (-지요/죠).

Practise -지 on real TOPIK questions

Hannim plans each day up to your exam date: questions on this pattern, reviews, full mock papers and graded writing. 7 days free, no card.

Start 7-day free trial

More level 2 grammar

All TOPIK grammar